Does Leaky Gut Exist?

When a gastroenterologist or other health professional claims that “leaky gut does not exist”, I cringe.

I believe that they are really stating that, in their opinion, leaky gut has no scientific basis.

Such bold claims are a discriminatory technique used against alternative providers such as Naturopathic doctors, Chiropractors and Nutritionists who are increasingly seeing clients for problems once restricted to medical care.

I agree that “leaky gut” is not a medical problem. This is because Leaky gut is a FUNCTIONAL problem, that may lead to medical conditions like Crohn's disease, depression, or other autoimmune disorders down the road.

The claim that leaky gut exists or does not exist is a bias rooted in a health professional's philosophy, not necessarily science.

You can believe that leaky gut is not a medical concern.

You can believe that it is over-diagnosed.

You can also believe that the evidence for a role of leaky gut in health and disease is not strong enough.

But lets weigh existence vs. non-existence with a discussion rooted in science. I believe that it is time to replace static thinking of how the gut works, with new recognition of the dynamic roles of the gut in both health and disease.

What is Leaky Gut?

“Leaky gut” refers to a clinical condition of varying severity in which the intestines absorb large, undigested molecules that are normally blocked. The intestines act somewhat like a sieve, keeping most molecules out, and regulating which small molecules are let in. In "leaky gut", the intestines become hyperpermeable to substances that otherwise have no business being absorbed. Once “leaky gut” or “hyperpermeability” is established, the more important question is to ask “Why?”.

What Causes Leaky Gut?

Leaky gut is thought to be caused by exposure to “toxic” substances or clinical conditions that directly or indirectly damage the integrity of the gut (Bralley, J. 2005). Whether you call it “leaky gut” or “hyperpermeability”, leaky gut is a functional process by which the intestines fail to regulate what molecules are absorbed into and what molecules are kept out of the bloodstream. This altered control can lead to hypersensitivity responses to food and byproducts of gut bacteria. For instance low-grade “endotoxemia” from bacterial overgrowth may lead to autoimmune disorders (1; 2;3), and the link has been supported with recent review in February 2012 (4). Leaky gut is being implicated in a wide range of chronic disease processes & the hypothesis continues to grow support.

Normal Gut Physiology

In between gut cells are “tight junctions” which are largely responsible for maintaining the functional barrier between the “external” environment and the “internal” environment.

Tight junctions are maintained by a host of physiological & pharmacological factors & their role is much more dynamic than previously recognized (5).

The tight junctions of the gut barrier are naturally imperfect. Normally, 1-2% of large proteins to pass into the bloodstream & the immune system is able to protect us against foreign and potentially harmful molecules that pass the gut barrier.

Up to 70% of the entire immune system is present in the gut in the form of gut-associated lymphoid tissue or GALT.

Maintaining the integrity of this mucosal immune barrier is increasingly recognized as crucial for health.

Abnormal Gut Physiology

When normal physiology is impaired by exposure to toxic substances, the intestine becomes hyperpermeable to foreign & poorly digested materials. The absorption of these molecules & foreign antigens is capable of initiating an overzealous immune reaction that may reverberate across many body systems.

Common causes of intestinal hyperpermeability:

Alcohol (6). A small study of 36 alcoholic patients without liver cirrhosis, malabsorption or malnutrition suggested that small bowel hyperpermeability following alcohol consumption may last at least 4 days and as long as 2 weeks following cessation of drinking (7)

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin or ibuprofen

Exposure to stress is also well-accepted to disrupt gastrointestinal function (18)

High Fructose Corn Syrup: The Chairman of the Institute for Functional Medicine, Dr. Mark Hyman, MD remarks in his latest book The Blood Sugar Solution (affiliate, non-affiliate):"High doses of fructose have been proven to literally punch holes in the intestinal lining, allowing nasty by-products of toxic gut bacteria and partially digested food proteins to enter your bloodstream and trigger inflammation. Naturally occurring fructose in fruit is part of a complex web of nutrients and fiber and doesn't exhibit the same biological effects as the high fructose found in corn sugar."

Implications of Leaky Gut:

Gastrointestinal function has been increasingly recognized to play an essential role in brain function (19). Numerous clinicians and researchers now refer to the links as the "gut-brain axis".It has been suggested that “leakiness” occurs in the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), and that causes of intestinal hyperpermability may also be associated with hyperpermeability of the BBB.

For instance, focusing just on serotonin and cortisol imbalance is not sufficient to explain depression. It has been hypothesized that inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes including leaky gut may also predispose an individual to depression (20).

A possible mechanism is that pro-inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysacharide from small bowel overgrowth of gram negative bacteria may “leak” or "translocate" into the bloodstream and induce depressive symptoms (21; 22).

Recent review in February 2012 from the University of Maryland School of Medicine suggests leaky gut may be associated with autoimmune diseases due to the importance of the intestinal barrier in tolerance and immunity to foreign compounds (4).

As early as 1997, “leaky gut” has been suggested to play a role in Crohn’s disease - an autoimmune disease of the intestine in response to gluten from wheat, barley & rye. Substances that increase intestinal permeability have shown to worsen Crohn’s disease, and removal of those substances may put the disease in remission (23)

There is evidence that leaky gut has an effect on other pediatric problems such as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, allergies, asthma, in addition to autism (24)

The complex interplay between intestinal bacteria, gut permeability, and mucosal immunity, may create a “perfect storm” for type 1 diabetes (27), an autoimmune disease of the pancreas, and may also play a role in the development of type 2 diabetes (28)

Problems with intestinal permeability are commonly associated with Autistic children, and there are theories in which gastrointestinal function may influence brain function (17).

Leaky gut and related oxidative stress may also be a key mechanism involved in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (25) and there are calls for the development of new drugs aimed at addressing these novel pathways (26).

Some studies suggest that gastrointestinal health, particularly permeability, may be crucial for heart function and disruptions in the intestinal barrier may stimulate inflammatory reactivity implicated in chronic heart failure patients (29; 30).

Testing for Leaky Gut

There are number of tests that can suggest or are commonly associated with "leaky gut". Testing is not always necessary, and specific choice of testing depends on individual symptoms and health history. In my practice, I am less concerned with identifying a specific "diagnosis", and more concerned with assessing physiological patterns of function and dysfunction.

Adrenal Salivary Index: Acute and chronic stress may suppress immunity and increase susceptibility to mucosal antibody reactions in the gut. Unknown infections or allergic reactions can also drive hidden stress responses and influence the release of other hormones.

Secretory IgA (sIgA): Both high and low levels of sIgA (serum, saliva, or fecal testing) can screen for disruptions in mucosal immunity.

Food antibody testing: Common reactive foods are wheat, milk, soy, & corn. Eating foods that you are sensitive to may cause leaky gut, and likewise, the presence of leaky gut may cause you to be sensitive to certain foods.

Lactulose/Mannitol Intestinal Permeability Challenge Test

Mannitol and Lactulose are sugars that are not metabolized by the human body, and should be excreted in the urine within 6 hours.

Lactulose is a naturally large protein only absorbed 1% of the time

Mannitol absorption is normally 14%

The test looks at the ratio of lactulose/mannitol recovered in the urine. In healthy individuals, the ratio should be <0.03

The test is preformed by swallowing a solution of 5g mannitol and 5g lactulose, collecting urine over 6 hours, assess lactulose and mannitol.

If Mannitol is less than 14% absorbed, malabsorption is suspected.

If Lactulose absorption was greater than 1%, hyperpermeability or “leaky gut” is suspected.

Natural Approaches for Leaky Gut:

Appropriately address hidden infections and stress imbalance. 4R Program for Gastrointestinal Wellness:Remove offending substances (alcohol, offending foods). Replace digestive enzymes Reinoculate with healthy pre-biotics and probiotics Repair the GI tract with supportive nutrition. It is important to note that each stage of the 4R program may take 30 days or longer. Additionally these stages have overlaps with one another and serve simply as a guide to promoting gastrointestinal health. After completion of the repair phase, individuals are encouraged to continue abstaining from offending substances, waiting a period of 6-9+ months before reintroducing on regular basis. One may also consider rotating mildly reactive foods on a 4-day rotation diet. It is important to work with a health professional as gastrointestinal health issues can reflect problems in other areas of your health, and so that food allergies are not confused with food sensitivities or intolerances. Supplements: There are many herbs and supplements that may offer gastrointestinal health benefits. Here is a taste of what appears in the literature...

Small study suggested that zinc supplementation over two months may improve intestinal permeability in Crohn’s patients (31)

Glutamine is a favored fuel of colonocytes and certain immune cells and is associated with a protective effect on gastrointestinal integrity.

Glutamine as well as curcumin from turmeric may modulate the inflammation and oxidative stress associated with hyperpermeability (32)

Vitamin D levels may have a synergistic role with healthy bacteria in the gut to promote integrity (33)

A variety of herbs and supplements may be useful at any stage of the 4R program and specific choices can be personalized to the client with respect to their full health profile.